The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1887-05-07
WESTERN WATERWAYS.

purpose of imparting snch a meas
ure of prominence to the organi.
cation as to provide for Its future
assembling, and thus enable those
most interested in the improve
ment of our Western waterways
to co operate in a matter so vital
ly affecting their welfare, and of
such special and paramount i'm
portance to the people Of the Mis-.
sissippi Valley, corps of officers
was constituted consisting of a
president, vice.president, secreta.
ry and treasurery, aud an execu-
tive committee for each State and
Territory represented in the asso-
citation was appointed. Mr.. B. ID.
Wood of New Orleans, was cho-
sen as president, and clothed
with authority to call the assoeia-
ton together as occasions might
require.
The States represented at New
Orleans, and for each of which an
executive committe was appointed
were the following: Arkansas,
Colorado, Dakota, Illinois, Indi.
ana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi,
Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Penn
sylvania, Tennessee, West Vir-
glnia and Wisconsin.
The States and Territories PEN
etrated by the Mississippi and its
tributaries cover an area of more
than 10000 square miles-an area
which embraces the major part OF
the population of the United
States-which contributes more
than 80 per cent to the food pro
ducts of the whole country, and
the value oflts internal commerce
is more than twelve times that ol
our total foreign commerce. TC
these products and this commerce
cheap and reliable transportation
is vital necessits, and this trans
portation can only be procured
and assured by the unobstructed
navigation of the waterways EN-
braced within the area referred
to.
1t was hoped that the earnest
and united action of the body rep
resenting this vast and produc
tive scope of country would sc
far arrest the attention of the ma
tional government as to secure
that respectful consideration and
judicious action demanded by the
magnitude of the interests involv'
ed; but though two sessions ol
Congress have convened and adj
journed since the date of the
meeting at New Orleans, yet nu
relief at all, or none of any eff
cient aud adequate character, has
been obtained from the Executive
and Legislative departments OF
the government, and unless the
teeming millions of this great val
ley mean to quietly resign them.
selves to their fate-to abandon
all hope of further succor from
that quarter and witness the de-
struction of what has been already
done-it is imperatively necessary
that they shall speak again to their
Representatives and public ser
wants in a voice more urgent and
potential than has yet been EN-.
ployed, and let 1t be understood,
that without reference to political
distinction or party lines, the peo'
pie of this valley are, upon the
question of the Improvement oi
its waterways, unit.
To this end the executive com.
mittee of Tennessee issue this cir,
cular, requesting the executive
committees of the other States
embraced in the association to
unite in a request to its president
Mr.. d. B. Wood, that he will sum.
mon a general meeting of dele
gates from every portion of the
Mississippi Valley, to be held in
the city of Memphis on or about
the Goth of October next. We
have designated this city because
of its central position and accessi
bility, aud should it be selected al
the place of meeting we can assure
the delegates of a cordial welcome
and unstinted hospitality.
Respectfully,
]. w. CLAPp, Chairman.
r. B. Snowden, L. j. Dabney,
w. A. Everman, G. NJ. Epsy,
James Phelan, N Fontaine,
j. Il. jefferson, Jno. >. Toof, Sec
Executive Committee,
Ignatius Donnelly denies vehe